“They have showed me that my position in this family is not what I once thought it was.” And now a glimmer of confusion and shock begins to spread on the faces in the room. “Though I once thought of myself as the patriarch or godfather of the family, commanding great respect and sought out for help in times of need, it seems instead that I hold the position of an ATM, good for a stream of money, but not much else.

As I have been replaced as host, both on the invitations and in the ceremony, I am resigning my financial duties as host to my successor, Real Dad. So cheers to the happy couple and the path they have chosen.” I finished my drink. “You all can let yourselves out.”

Is this selfish? I’m supposed to shell out 40 – 50 grand for a wedding that I can’t invite anyone to? That I am not a part of? I’m so done with this crap. I’m done with my step-daughter, I’m done with my GF. I transferred the money out of our joint account last night. (she has not had a job since she moved in with me)

This morning I called all the vendors I had written checks to for deposits to refund my money. At present it looks like I’ll lose around 1500, for the venue, but the other vendors have been great about refunding.

TLDR: You want your “REAL DAD” to be on the invitation, to give you away and to sit at the head table, fine, your “REAL DAD” can pay for everything too.

Update 1

The immediate aftermath was tantrum and people sitting there mumbling while not actually saying anything to me, but to each other. After much yelling with the GF about me being selfish, I spent the night in my home office and no one knocked on my door, not once. Today’s aftermath is kind of depressing for me.

GF brought me Bride’s wedding planner to show me how much work I was ruining. I thumbed through it, found a page in the music section for Father / Daughter dances. All of the songs were catered to Real Dad’s taste. So I thought they were just being disrespectful, but now I’m feeling like they never really gave a crap at all, especially since the menu included two ingredients I’m allergic to, that actually made me laugh.

Either way, I’m glad to be done, returned the planner and asked her when she and bride could move out. Also, I never promised to pay for the wedding. I offered them the use of my home when they were sure it was going to be small, but other than that, all I’ve heard is how it’s the Bride’s family that should pay, so, let it be the bride’s family then, aka, not me.

Final Update

Girlfriend and Bride are now moved out. They are moving in with the groom. It was very hard not to be petty with some of the “belongings” they took with them, but it’s done and I switched out the locks and now it’s time for a brew. I can’t believe how popular this story got, but I feel good to be given support by so many.

If I find out what happens with the wedding, I will let you know, but I can’t guarantee that I will put in the effort to find out. From what I’ve heard they are trying to “scale things back” and get his parents to help out. GF burned bridges when I found out she tried to write herself a check on our joint account the day after the unpleasantness. By then I had already moved money, so I guess I’m a bigger a** than her, but I could feel it coming.

That’s all. Thanks.